Detachable life-raft for ships.



PATBNTEDJSEPT. s, 19.03.

' f B. W. BOOKER.

. DETACHABLE LIFE. RAFT FOR SHIPS. ummm-10N FILED un. 9. 1903.

z SHEETS-sum1 1.

I0 MODEL.

No. 738,400. lM'mzlvTBn;SEPTl 8,1903.

B. W. BooKER. Y

DETAGHABLB LIFE RAPT PoR SHIPS.

' ArPLwATxoN rum) un. 9, 190s. H0 MODEL. A 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Patented September 8, 1903.

PATENT OFFICE.

BENJAMIN vv. BooKEE, or BERKELEY, CALIFORNIA.

DETACHABLE LIFE-RAT FOR SHIPS.

EPECIFXGATION forming part of Letters Patent N o. 738,400, dated September 8, 1903.

Application filed April 9,1903. Serial No. 151.802. (No model.)

To all whom, it rmty concern:

Be it known that I, BENJAMIN W. BooK'EE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Berkeley, county of Alameda, State of California, have invented an Improved Detachable Ark or Life-Raft for Ships; and I hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same.

My invention relates to improvements in apparatus for rescuing people from sinking vessels, and has particular reference to a form of ship construction whereby a portion of the vessel above the Water-line Inay be detached from the rest of the hull in case of disaster or wreck at sea and made to serve as an arkof refuge for the survivors.

It consists ot' the parts and the construction and combiu ation of parts, as hereinafter Inore fully described,'having reference to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation in partial section o'l' my invention. Fig. 2 is a plan of the same. Fig. shows means forlocking the ark to the deck of vessel. Fig. 4- is a transverse vertical section `through the ark and hull, showing the former lifted from the latter and supported upon the elevator-frames. Fig. 5 is a crossesection through the ark and hull, showing the two in normal position. Fig. 6 is a detail of the hoist. Fig. 7 is a detail of a portion of the same in elevation.

A represents the hull of a ship, to which my invention is here shown applied.

B represents a detachable superstructure or ark resting upon and normally secured to the after portion of the vessel. It extends about one-third the length of the ship proper and in width and general external appearance conforms to the lines of the ship,s0 that it wi ll not detract in any manner from the beauty and symmetry of `the vessel, while in size it is designed to be commodious eno ugh to hou se all the occupants of the ship and in ease of disaster to be capable of being detached from the hull as the latter goes down, floating away with all on board safe, protected from storm and exposure, and suitably provisioned.

Various means may be employed to lock the ark in position upon the vessel and to detach it therefrom. In the present case I have shown the arkas having a flat bottom I normal conditions.

and resting upon the after deck and supported in a cradle formed between a series of upright stanchions 2 around the sides of and integral with the hull A, which uprights engage in corresponding recesses in the sides of the ark.

Approach to the ark is had from the main deck by means of the stairway or ladder 3. The interior of the ark ma y be fitted as a cabin, to which access is had through a hatchwayel in the deck of the ark.

The bottom of the ark has a series of projections 5, adapted to pass through openings in the ships deck 6 and to seat in collars or caps '7, secured to the under-side of the deck, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. The caps and projections are perforated coincidently, and locking-pins S, operated by suitable means, as the levers 9 and connectingrods l0., engage in the perforations to hold the ark securely and rigidlyin position on the vessel under all The levers 9 are adapted to be operated from the Steerage-deck.

In case it should ever occur that the ark is to be launched it is necessary that some means should be provided whereby it may be raised some distance above the deck G in order to allow water4 to rush in between the deck and the bottom of the ark when the ship sinks, and so not draw the ark down into the vortex formed by the sinking vessel. Accordingly I have shown frame l1 disposed beneath and centrally and at suitable distances along the length of the ark and extending down between decks and slidable in guides 12. A drum or windlass 13 is disposed in relation to each frame and its guides, around which is wound a cable 18', suitably secured to prevent slip and having its two ends passing one above the drum and one beneath, and thence horizontally around sheaves 14 upon a ixed support, thence upward around sheaves l5, disposed adjacent to the upper deck, thence downward to be secured to the bottom p0rtions of frame 11, so that when the windlasses are turned simultaneously the ark will rise and will be supported on the frames until such time as it is iioated. 'lhe windlasses may be turned either by hand-power or they may be driven in unison by suitable connections with an engine, which latter means it is not deemed necessary here to show. The num- ICO vanisms would be commensurate with the weight to be lifted.

The ark when once put in position on the Vessel becomes a rigid integral part of her,A

in no manner detracting from her appearance or general seaworthiness. Inasmuch as the wheel may be located at the forward part of the vessel, the ark will in no wise interfere with the steering-gear. On the other hand, if it is desired to have the wheel-house aft suitable provision would be made to sever the steering-lines in case the emergency ever arose that it became necessary to cast oil the ark. In case of threatened destruction of the vessel the pins 8 are drawn, leaving the ark resting by gravity on the vessel. The windlasses are then operated to hoist the ark a distance above the deck to allow of the ingress of water between the latter and the bottom of the ark when the ship finally sinks. The passengers and crew are assembled on the ark, ladders and other connections with the main partof the ship are cast off, and when the hull does go down the ark will be left afloat.

It is obvious that various changes in the details herein described may be made without `maintained always in upright position.

I-Iaving thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. The combination with the hull of a Vessel, of a detachable life-savingsuperstructure; guides on the vessel between which ysaid structure is supported; collars or caps secured to the under side of the deck of the vessel, and projections on the bottom of the superstructure iitting said collars or caps, said collars or caps and projections perforated coincidently; locking-pins engaging said collars oiicaps and projections and .means whereby the pins are actuated in unison to release the parts.

2. The combination with the hull of a vessel of a detachable life-Savin g ark, and guides on the vessel between which said ark is supported; means for locking the ark in position on the vessel and means for releasing the locking means; guides located between decks of the vessel and a frame disposed beneath and at suitable distances along the length of the ark, and slidable in said guides; and a hoisting mechanism connected with the ark i'or elevating the latter to allow the water to enter below the ark to float the latter from the vessel.

3. The combination with the hull of a vessel of a detachable ark and guides between -which it normally rests; means for locking the ark in position on the vessel; means for releasing the locking means; guides located between decks of the vessel and a framework depending from the ark at points in its length, and fitting between said last-named guides; a winding-drum disposed in relation to each frame; a cable for each drum extending from the drum horizontally in opposite directions and thence extending vertically and returned substantially upon itself and having its ends secured to one of the frames whereby the ark may be elevated to allow the ingress of Water beneath it to float the ark from the vessel.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

BENJAMIN WV. BOOKER. lVitnesses:

A. N. FELL, A. C. STEVENS. 

